Evaluation of Electric Vehicles as an Alternative for Work Trip and ...

The principal investigator sits on the board of directors for the
Northeast Advanced Vehicle Consortium (NAVC) along with the state fleet
manager, who is responsible for implementing alternate fuel technology
in Connecticut state government to comply with Federal law. Board
membership has provided an opportunity for regular communication between
the fleet manager and researcher at board meetings.
The project was successful because it has discouraged expenditures
of public funds on ALAB technology that doesn't work well and doesn't
last very long.
It is recommended that a nickel cadmium (NiCd) battery be
evaluated in this car. The cost of NiCd batteries has fallen sharply in
recent years. An evaluation should examine claims that NiCd batteries
will both last longer can provide double the range of CSLAB cars. These
characteristics would improve the practicality of a battery/electric
subcompact car for state fleet needs.
It is further recommended that fuel-hired heaters be evaluated as
a means to address heating and windshield defrosting requirements in
Connecticut in a manner that does not use much electricity from the
battery pack, which supplies motive power.
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